Expert Advice on Medical Interoperability and Trusted Wireless

Jun 6, 2018 | Black Box Commercial Services

The Center for Medical Interoperability in Nashville, TN is on a mission to improve the safety and quality of healthcare and drive innovation through technology. The non-profit is a cooperative research and development lab founded by health systems to advance data sharing among medical technologies. That means the devices used for patient care can seamlessly share information and be easily swapped out as needed.

But, for now, we are far from there and that’s what the Center wants to change. For example, in a typical ICU room, there are 6 to 12 medical devices around the patient’s bed. Usually, only three of those devices are integrated.

Imagine the impact on patient care if all those medical devices, such as monitors, ventilators, and pain pumps, could talk to each other and share patient data in real time. The devices could respond and adjust themselves as needed.

Medical interoperability means safer and more timely care and better outcomes for patients. It also improves clinician effectiveness and efficiency. The center estimates that more than $30 billion in healthcare costs can be saved annually by widespread adoption of interoperability with medical devices.

One of the keys to making plug-and-play medical interoperability a reality is wireless mobility.

Mobility in healthcare presents challenges unlike those in any other industry. It has to be mission-critical. It has to provide 100% coverage. It has to be segmented and secure. And it has to have the capacity to handle current and anticipated use, including medical IoT devices. To achieve this, wireless networks in hospitals consist of complementary technologies including DAS, small cells, Wi-Fi, and Two-Way Radio.

In this video, Bill Bundy, Vice President of Member Benefits and Operations at the Center, discusses why it’s so important how wireless is implemented in hospitals and how it affects patient, guest, clinician, and staff communications.

If you’re thinking about your medical mobility strategy, talk to us first. As the leader in medical mobility, we’ve designed, deployed, and managed wireless systems in major medical centers from coast to coast. See how in these case studies. We can do the same for you.